Western Railroad Discussion > RDC and F units in Idaho

There's a history between the ex-BC Rail Budd RDCs and me. Back in 1998, while driving from Vancouver (Canada) to Whistler, I noticed I was driving along a set of railroad tracks. Moments later a Budd RDC set whisked by, no doubt the Cariboo Prospector which was still in service back then.

In 2004. I booked a trip on the Lewis and Clark Explorer Train, which utilized the Budd RDCs from the Cariboo Prospector. It was a very memorable trip between Linnton (NW of Portland, OR) and Astoria. I've posted photo bits and pieces from this trip, scattered among various threads on TO.

The RDCs ended up on the Wallowa Union Railroad in NE Oregon after finishing the Lewis & Explorer duties. I could never line up my days off with the excursion, so my plan to nab the RDCs never materialized. Oh well.

Several years later, the RDCs were sold to Idaho Northern and Pacific (INPR). They were involved in a derailment on the UP while being transported to the INPR, back in summer of 2013:

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3118192

INPR began running the "Payette River Flyer" excursion last year, between Cascade and Smiths Ferry. Besides the scenic roundtrip, the excursion offers rafters and kayakers a one way trip, allowing them to bring their equipment onboard on the flatcar-slash-gondola coupled between the RDCs. I was finally able to plan a trip last weekend to nab this train.

- Near Cabarton.
- At Smiths Ferry.
- Video of the chase.

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- Sky was hazy and the air smelled burnt due to the forest fires.
- View of the RDCs and the platform at Cascade.
- Video of the Payette River Flyer arriving in Cascade.

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- Going away shot at Cabarton.
- I believe that's the engineer. Thanks for "highball the foamer."
- Logo.

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After finishing the chase of the RDCs, I headed back to Boise on Hwy 55. I knew that Idaho Northern and Pacific's (INPR) Thunder Mountain Line excursion train also ran that day, between Horseshoe Bend and Banks. I couldn't do a full chase of both trains on the same day, so I committed myself to the RDCs, and hoped for at least a partial chase of the Thunder Mountain Line excursion. Just a few miles out of Banks, I spotted the train heading back to Horseshoe Bend, so I improvised a chase, and flew by the seat of my pants, as the saying goes.

The P5 horn on the #1106 is awesome!

- F unit #1106 and the train parked at Horseshoe Bend.
- Going away shot (#1112 trailing) north of Horseshoe Bend.
- Video of the quick chase.

I had enough time to check out the UP activities around Nampa later that day and also on Monday, and decided that there's plenty of foaming opportunities to warrant a return visit in the future. I hope to ride one or both of the excursion trains when I return.

That's all folks.

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Great coverage, Charles! I really enjoy both videos, they were top-notch quality as usual. Nice choice of locations for the video, I especially enjoyed the scenes along the river. The second scene from the first video (of the RDCs passing under the bridge) is also a favorite. VOTD candidates for sure. It looks like you had a good trip!

John



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/15 23:36 by jmf1910.

neat operations

Interesting stuff....!! Thanks.......

Charles:

Great stuff!  Can't determine if that was an old or new cast Nathan P5, but it did sound nice. Gather the Fs were originally from Canada.

Regards, Jim Evans

Both F's are former GM&O F-3's rebuilt at Paducah into F-10's for MBTA.

FiveChime Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Charles:
>
> Great stuff!  Can't determine if that was an old
> or new cast Nathan P5, but it did sound nice.
> Gather the Fs were originally from Canada.
>
> Regards, Jim Evans

Horrors!  RDCs hauling a trailer.  The Budd Company will void the warranty........

Art House
Gettysburg, Pa.

Really enjoyed the great photos of the RDCs and F Units.

Do you know if they still have F Unit #1150?

Thanks again.

ALLEN

M&STL bought two RDC4's souped up to haul a coach.

I don't think that worked very well, but Budd certainly okayed it....


aehouse Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Horrors!  RDCs hauling a trailer.  The Budd
> Company will void the warranty........
>
> Art House
> Gettysburg, Pa.

I have word that the remaing F's at Emmit, ID were cut up about two years ago.

Keith A

aehouse Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Horrors!  RDCs hauling a trailer.  The Budd
> Company will void the warranty........
>
> Art House
> Gettysburg, Pa.

Not one trailer, but two!  Unless (unlikely) they pass mu lines thru the flatcar.

-John

krm152 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Really enjoyed the great photos of the RDCs and F
> Units.
>
> Do you know if they still have F Unit #1150?
>
> Thanks again.
>
> ALLEN

I saw a third F unit parked at Horseshoe Bend, and it looked ready for service. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of it or its number.

eee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> M&STL bought two RDC4's souped up to haul a
> coach.
>
> I don't think that worked very well, but Budd
> certainly okayed it....
>
>
> aehouse Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Horrors!  RDCs hauling a trailer.  The Budd
> > Company will void the warranty........
> >
> > Art House
> > Gettysburg, Pa.

What makes you say that Budd okayed it?
Just because Budd sold them the cars doesn't mean they "approved" how they were used.

cchan006 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> krm152 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Really enjoyed the great photos of the RDCs and
> F
> > Units.
> >
> > Do you know if they still have F Unit #1150?
> >
> > Thanks again.
> >
> > ALLEN
>
> I saw a third F unit parked at Horseshoe Bend, and
> it looked ready for service. Unfortunately, I
> didn't get a photo of it or its number.

Thanks for the reply.
ALLEN

FT Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have word that the remaing F's at Emmit, ID were
> cut up about two years ago.
>
> Keith A

They are still active, and even though they are the same railroad, never saw the F units in Emmett. Used to go there 2-3 times a week for work. 

While I don't have Norm Carlson's excellent RDC book in front of me, if I recall correctly the RDC4's were designed and built in a special configuration to replace a locomotive, baggage car and RPO to save money, and to haul a single coach, and M&STL's purchase agreement with Budd reflected this plan.  However, I don't believe it worked very well and M&STL sold the RDC4's (no coach seating) to C&O and went back to locomotive hauled trains. 

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> eee Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > M&STL bought two RDC4's souped up to haul a
> > coach.
> >
> > I don't think that worked very well, but Budd
> > certainly okayed it....
> >
> >
> > aehouse Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Horrors!  RDCs hauling a trailer.  The Budd
> > > Company will void the warranty........
> > >
> > > Art House
> > > Gettysburg, Pa.
>
> What makes you say that Budd okayed it?
> Just because Budd sold them the cars doesn't mean
> they "approved" how they were used.

Great Videos! Good to see the Budds still operational, used to watch these whenever I could on BC Rail's Squamish sub. The horn echoing off the river valley was nice to hear, bring back good memories. #11 (ex BC-11 most likely) was on the train the one and only time I rode it two weeks before BC Rail's passenger service ended October 31st, 2002.

Does the INPR have the #31 RDC-3 as well? 

Thanks again,

Mike N.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/15 09:49 by Helo-Mech.